What to See in Cartagena, Colombia

October 20, 2026

Advisory for visitors: Under the US State Department system Colombia is at Level 3, “Reconsider Travel” (issued 31 March 2026). The UK FCDO tells people to avoid specified border and rural regions, including the southern part of Bolívar Department, and does not list Cartagena. While sightseeing in the city, guard against phone and chain theft, scopolamine in drinks and unlicensed cabs. Use app or hotel-booked taxis and keep your camera strap short. The current texts are on the US State Department and UK FCDO sites.

Cartagena’s old port was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1984. Here are the main sights in a sensible visiting order, from the compact centre out to the hilltops. Prices use about 3,200 COP per US dollar; check the same-day rate.

1. The walls

The ramparts are free and open to everyone. Colombia’s tourism site describes about 11 km of walls, raised after Drake’s raid of 1586 and completed in 1796. Walk them in the cool hours, because heat in the middle of the day is intense, and never climb on the stones. Details are on the official walls page .

2. Torre del Reloj and the plazas behind it

Pass through the clock tower into Plaza de los Coches, where enslaved people were once sold, then browse the sweet stalls of the Portal de los Dulces. Plaza Santo Domingo, a few streets on, has a Botero sculpture of a reclining woman that locals call “Gertrudis”.

3. Plaza de Bolívar

Two museums face the square. The Museo Histórico de Cartagena, in the former Palace of the Inquisition, keeps hours of 9am to 6pm Monday to Saturday and 10am to 4pm on Sunday and holidays. The Museo del Oro Zenú next door is reported to be free, closed on Mondays.

4. Baluarte de Santo Domingo at sunset

Climb to this bastion for a free public viewpoint over the sea. It is a good place to be as the light goes.

5. Getsemaní

Cross to the quarter outside the main walls, where the 1811 independence movement started. Look for murals along Calle de la Sierpe and Calle San Juan and for the umbrellas over Callejón Angosto. Evening street food in Plaza de la Trinidad is lively, though theft after dark is a recorded problem, so keep valuables hidden.

6. Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas

Allow a morning. The fort is open daily 7am to 6pm, and a foreign adult ticket costs 38,000 COP. The ramps are steep and some tunnels get slippery, so wear shoes with grip. Construction began in 1657, and the fort was never captured.

7. Convento de la Popa

This convent stands on the highest hill in the city and gives views in every direction. Take a taxi up, as guides advise against walking the access road. Entry has been reported at roughly 11,000 to 14,000 COP, so confirm before you pay.

Practical points

Carry bottled water and a hat.
Stick to bottled water, and avoid ice.
Do not photograph naval or military installations.
Drinking alcohol in public is illegal.

Tickets for guided city tours can be compared on GetYourGuide .